Bellanca 7GCAA and Piper PA-28-236 mid-air collision near Los Alamitos, California, March 9, 1996
On March 9, 1996 at about 10:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Bellanca 7GCAA (N5052Y) and Piper PA-28-236 (N8179A), were involved in a mid-air collision near Los Alamitos, California. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other. Factors were the pilots' failure to use available radar services.
the failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other. Factors were the pilots' failure to use available radar services.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1996 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Los Alamitos, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bellanca 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N5052Y · registry record · serial 392-80
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N8179A · registry record · serial 28-8011065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Bellanca 7GCAA final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Bellanca, N5052Y, was climbing to 5,500 feet msl at 1,000 feet per minute on a easterly heading. He heard a loud bang, but never saw the other airplane. The pilot of the Piper PA-28, N8179A, was descending through 4,500 feet msl on a westerly heading. The pilot of Piper saw the other airplane cross the center of his windshield to the left and did not have time to perform an evasive maneuver. The airplanes collided almost head-on. The left side of both airplanes was damaged. Neither pilot requested radar traffic advisories from any air traffic control facility.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-236 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Bellanca, N5052Y, was climbing to 5,500 feet msl at 1,000 feet per minute on a easterly heading. He heard a loud bang, but never saw the other airplane. The pilot of the Piper PA-28, N8179A, was descending through 4,500 feet msl on a westerly heading. The pilot of Piper saw the other airplane cross the center of his windshield to the left and did not have time to perform an evasive maneuver. The airplanes collided almost head-on. The left side of both airplanes was damaged. Neither pilot requested radar traffic advisories from any air traffic control facility.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Bellanca 7GCAA from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1993; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 8:55 pm
- Destination: HMT Hemet CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from TOA, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-236 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 437 hours in all; 412 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 362 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,609 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1995; 145 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.